Conor Coady has departed Wolves on a permanent basis, joining Leicester City for an undisclosed fee, after an eight-year association with the club.
The influential defender, who captained Wolves back into European football during his time in old gold, became a vital part of the club’s successes in recent years, after signing from Huddersfield Town in 2015.
Brought in by Kenny Jackett as a midfielder, Coady proved a utility option for his opening two years at Molineux, before the arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo, when a move to the middle of a back three proved the turning point in what developed into a fine Wolves career.
An ever-present as Wolves stormed into the Premier League in 2018, scoring from the spot on the day the Old Gold were crowned champions at Bolton Wanderers, Coady and his club enjoyed a parallel rise in English football.
Handed the captain’s armband on a permanent basis following promotion, the former Liverpool man revelled in the top flight, marshalling Wolves to a top seven finish and Emirates FA Cup semi-final as Nuno’s leader on the pitch, with the Old Gold qualifying for the Europa League.
A big personality off the pitch, as an ambassador for the Foundation and Feed Our Pack campaign, Coady remained crucial on it, playing every minute of 57 out of the club’s 59 games during a historic 2019/20 campaign, which ended with a narrow Europa League quarter final defeat to Sevilla.
That leadership came to the fore further during lockdown, when the skipper scored his first Premier League goal against Manchester City, while his performances earned the 30-year-old a first senior England cap – one of ten he’d make while on Wolves’ books, including against Wales where he opened his international account.
Bruno Lage’s arrival saw Coady remain at the heart of the back three – a position he’d now trademarked – while goals in big away results at Aston Villa, Everton and Chelsea, as well as a Molineux success over Southampton, decorated the captain’s final full season at Wolves further.
This time last season, in search of a ticket to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the defender joined Everton on loan in a bid to play regularly, and now Coady’s journey at Molineux finally concludes, with the defender written in the club’s record books with more than 300 appearances to his name.
Sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “I’d like to place on record our thanks to Conor for the incredible years of service he’s given to the football club – he’s been a brilliant footballer and above all a brilliant person, on and off the pitch.
“He’s helped drive the club forward as captain, leading us into the Premier League and then European football, and had incredible pride every time he represented Wolves.
“While this move works for all parties, we’re letting Conor go with a heavy heart. He has given so much to Wolves over the years and will forever be remembered in the club’s proud history.”
